New Zealand's most decorated Paralympian, Dame Sophie Pascoe burst onto the scene as a 15-year old with a series of stunning performances. She became the youngest medal winner at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, winning an amazing 3 golds, a World Record and a silver medal.
Over the past decade, the powerful swimmer has firmly cemented her place as a national treasure. It is impossible to do justice to all of Dame Sophie's achievements in the pool, but her quick highlight reel includes 19 Paralympic medals (including 11 gold) across 4 Games, 17 IPC world titles, and multiple world records.
In 2018, Sophie made further history when she was named flagbearer and team captain at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, becoming the first para-athlete to lead the New Zealand team out at a major Games.
At the end of 2021, she became the youngest ever Dame in the New Year's Honours in recognition of her record-breaking accomplishments in the pool. She is a seven-time winner of Para Athlete of the Year, as well as Para Athlete of the Decade in 2020 at the Halberg Awards - honouring and celebrating New Zealand sporting excellence.
A below-the-knee amputee following a lawnmower accident when she was a toddler, Dame Sophie is known for her raw honesty and offers refreshing insight into the ups and downs of life as an athlete. She leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets.
